Now that we touched on how important is it to never let your networking guard down – let’s touch on how to sell yourself when networking. It is important to be able to introduce yourself and make sure other people know who you are and how you can help them. Creating the perfect elevator pitch is the best way to do that in a limited amount of time. An elevator pitch is a brief message or commercial about you. It communicates who you are, what you’re looking for, and how you can benefit a company or organization.
Now, where to start? I recommend having a 10 second and 30 second pitch – and most importantly, do not forget to add your personality and flare! Always be thinking of how you can stand out from your competition!
Start brainstorming and ask yourself:
- How can I explain what I do briefly?
- What makes me unique?
- What are some notable accomplishments I’ve achieved?
- What makes me memorable?
Write your elevator pitch down, and commit it to memory! You want to be prepared to share your elevator pitch while attending a scheduled networking event, shopping in the grocery store, attending a PTA meeting, literally any occasion that welcomes the opportunity to meet someone new! (….if you haven’t caught on yet….ALWAYS BE NETWORKING!) It can be nerve-racking to strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know, and having a solid elevator pitch is a great way to break the ice!
My 10 second elevator pitch is: My name is Renee Frey, I’m an ultimate optimist, wine enthusiast and avid traveler. I’m the President of TalentQ where we help people get pay raises and promotions and find your future employees.
My 30 second elevator pitch is: My name is Renee Frey I’m the president and founder of TalentQ, your one-stop shop for hiring leaders and job seekers. Most companies are struggling to hire people, we uncover invisible talent that no one else can find, which ensures your team is fully staffed and thriving. Most people in their jobs are frustrated and want to quit, but they don’t know where to start. We transform people’s lives by giving them the tools they need to find a job that makes them jump out of bed.
Practice and refine your elevator speech. I recommend practicing it out loud with someone you look up to or even someone that intimidates you. That will prepare you for an event where you never know who you will end up speaking with! Soon enough, your elevator pitch will be second nature!
Stay tuned for more information on how to leverage your network and make the most out of your networking events!
Click HERE to get an elevator pitch formula completely FREE!
Cheers!
Renee